A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

     This is one of my favorite Hymns. Written by Martin Luther, this song has certainly stood the test of time for relativity. During the Nazi regime, when the military came to round up the Jews for concentration camps, a small group of outraged Germans walked with them singing this hymn -- they were martyred for their refusal to leave their Jewish friends.

     There are two versions of the song (one more classic, one more modern). Pay special attention to the lyrics; oh, that we Christians today could muster such words as back then...

Lyrics:

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing.
Our helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe.
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right man on our side,
The man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He.
Lord Sabboth, his name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure,
For lo, his doom is sure.
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers
Not thanks to them, abideth.
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also.
The body they may kill,
God's truth abideth still.
His kingdom is forever...

Classic Version:

Modern Version:

The "Real" Christmas

     Well, Christmas is right around the corner, and far be it for me to be the only one who hasn't done a Christmas Post. The biggest issue for me this time of year is using this period to rest in the Lord. It's too easy to get stressed about making sure everyone is happy, earning money to buy Christmas gift and making sure I've bought everyone's gifts. I love giving gifts -- even more than getting them! -- and it is very easy for me to freakout under the pressure of wanting to get something for everyone... especially if I can't afford to get everyone something.

     This is the sad part about Christmas; forgetting that it's not about buying people gifts because you want to show you care, it's not about having family get-togethers with good food, it's not even about helping those in need around you...

     Christmas is about Christ. I know that sounds cliché, but it's easy to say, "Christmas is not about 'stuff,'" but there are a lot of good things that happen around Christmas that STILL are not what Christmas is about.

     Someone asked me the other day if I was looking forward to Christmas. This year, I can honestly say I am NOT. Not in the normal sense of "looking forward to Christmas" anyway. In my house, Christmas has always been about family. Family is something very special for me -- almost sacred --  because I don't have any. I have a mother, a father and a sister -- which is more than some people have, sadly -- but I do not have grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins or anything else like that anywhere near me. I've never understood what it's like for families to "go to Grandma's house for lunch" or to have a sleepover with my cousin. The only family I have lives almost a thousand miles away.



     So what makes this Christmas different from all the others? Every year, since I was born, my Grandparents -- the ones that live a thousand miles away -- have visited my family and me for Christmas. They and Christmas go together for me. This year, they have finally become too -- I think "frail" would be the best term -- to make the trip. I will be alone this Christmas.



     This realization, as sad as it is for me -- I cry whenever I think about it -- has cause me to think about what Christmas is about. I'd always heard it was about "spending time with family," "being kind to those in need," "having good time and hot food with friends," but now that those things have been taken away from me, I have been trying to think about what to do with my Christmas.

     Then I remembered. Christmas is about Christ and NOTHING else. Christmas is about remembering and celebrating the time when Jesus was born. Even more so, to remember that Jesus was born so that He could die -- paying the penalty of sin for the entire world! When I am reminded of this, how can I be sad that I am alone this Christmas? This was the first step in Christ's conquering death!

     If you're like me and find yourself alone this Christmas -- or even if you're not alone! -- remember what Christmas is REALLY about. Jesus Christ. Take time to read about His birth (I dare you to read it in ALL the Gospels, each one's a little different!) and, if you have time, read His Passion also. Sing some -- what I like to call "Real" -- Christmas carols -- the Christmas Hymns. With the time left over, pray. Pray for your family -- even if you don't know who they are. Pray for the persecuted Church all over the world. Pray for the military families that will be separated during Christmas. God will bless you for remembering and honoring Him.

Hymns - "After All That I've Done"

     I have (rather recently) been taken with old Church hymns. Not so much for the actual music -- I'm a rock-and-roll-girl through and through -- but I have come to appreciate the wonderful theological value that hymns hold. They are starting to become little treasure chests of hope and truth -- would that our songs today were to speak in such sound terms. *Please don't stone me!* But I don't care too much for modern Christian Contemporary music. If other people like that music WONDERFUL, but it really isn't for me.

     Now, before everyone grabs pitchforks and torches, let me continue with my respect to old hymns -- and I mean OLD! This hymn really struck a chord with me -- no pun intended! Paul's famous cry, "I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate," (Romans 7:15 NASB) sadly rings very true with me. I become so aggravated with myself for knowing the right thing to do, and yet choosing the very thing I despise. This is John Wesley's hymn: "After all that I have done." (For ease of reading, I have provided modern English where necessary):

1 After all that I have done,

Saviour, art thou [are you] pacified?

Whither shall my vileness run?
[Where will my evil-ness go?]

Hide me, earth, the sinner hide!

Let me sink into the dust,

Full of holy shame, adore!
[I am full of repentance and want to praise God!]

Jesus Christ, the good, the just,

Bids [Tells] me go, and sin no more.

2 O confirm the gracious word,

Jesus, Son of God and man!

Let me never grieve thee, Lord,
[Let me never disappoint you, Lord]

Never turn to sin again:

Till my all in all thou art,
[Until the time when my everything is in You]

Till thou bring thy nature in,
[Until You place Your perfect nature in me]

Keep this feeble, trembling heart,

Save me, save me, Lord, from sin!

     This hymn was written sometime during the 18th Century, but the cry is so relevant to today. The speaker -- the sinner -- acknowledges how sinful he is and how much in awe he is of the salvation of Christ. He expresses the desire to please God with all his actions, but he also cries in fear for his "feeble, trembling heart."

     It is my deepest desire to bring glory to God, but it seems my humanity is always getting in the way. Yet, if men were perfect, there'd be no need for a savior. As sinful humans, our only recourse is to continually recognize that God is King and Lord over our lives, in everything we are to please and honor Him. Yet, because we are fallen creatures who constantly sin, we are to daily seek repentance and a deeper relationship with God. By His mercy we are saved; by His grace we bring Him honor.